The Best Ways to Heat Your Indoor Pool Economically

If there is one potential drawback to indoor pools, it is that they are costly to operate. They can’t simply warm up in the sun like outdoor pools in a hot climate or on a sunny summer day. Many people worry about the costs of indoor pool heating systems, but there are measures you can take to operate your pool more economically. This is particularly necessary with municipal pools, which have limited access to funding that keeps them running. Here are five things you can do to keep costs down.

Use a Pool Cover

Never make the mistake of thinking that an indoor pool doesn’t need a cover. The cover prevents the loss of energy when the pool is not in use, and this maintains the temperature of the pool without overworking the heater.

Maintain Moderate Temperatures

There is no need to heat the pool too much. It is a swimming pool after all and not a hot tub! The recommended average temperature is 78 °F for lap swimmers and 82 °F for recreational swimmers. Taking the pool temperature up by even one degree is expensive – it can increase your costs with as much as 10%. When the pool is not in use, turn the temperature down to about 60 °F. Then, you can turn up the heat again an hour or two before you open for business. It’s cheaper to reheat a pool than it is to keep it at a constant temperature.

Go Solar

A solar heating system may require a sizable initial capital investment but, once it’s operating, its running costs are negligible. It’s the most environmentally friendly way to heat the pool and it will bring a very pleasing decrease in your power bills.

Keep the Room Warm

Water evaporates more quickly when the surrounding air is cold. So, if you keep the room nicely heated to about two or three degrees warmer than the pool, you can prevent water and energy loss through evaporation. This, in turn, prevents the heater from having to overwork to maintain the desired temperature.

Switch to a Heat Pump – If You Haven’t Already

Pools have traditionally been heated with electric resistance or gas heaters, both of which have relatively high running costs. A good alternative is a heat pump system. Heat pumps are still electrically powered, but they do not generate heat – something that uses a great deal of energy. Instead, they draw heat from the surrounding air and transfer it to the pool water by way of refrigerants and heat exchangers. This is a far more energy-efficient system. 

OpenAire is committed to helping create indoor swimming pool areas that are energy efficient. We specialize in retractable roof systems that can open and close in minutes. Contact us for more information.